inside-the-box gift idea: playing with cardboard

cardboardcooker
colormehouse

Bring home anything and kids always seem to think that the cardboard box it comes in is the coolest part. (Growing up, I remember when my best friend’s parents bought a new refrigerator and we got a new fort out of it. Score!) But, in this case, the cardboard really is the best part — because it’s designed to be a tree, a cooker, a playhouse, a rocket or a dollhouse. Unlike cardboard nursery gear, which raised some safety concerns when we posted about it earlier this year, these imagination-boosting cardboard products for toddlers and school-aged kids are getting positive buzz on design sites and making appearances in interior design magazines. The concept and price tag won me over … we’ll have the Color Me House playhouse under our tree this year — the moon and star cutouts in the roof are definite upgrades from my fort days! –Ginny F.

steal this idea: bonsai christmas tree

bonsai tree

Lately, I’ve been having a love affair with all things Japanese. I’ve been eating tons of imported candy, visiting the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese garden at the Chicago Botanical Garden and (ever since Halloween) been watching enough imported Japanese horror movies to earn a lifetime’s worth of nightmares. What better way to celebrate my current love of all things Japanese than to swap my usual evergreen tree with a festive bonsai? Martha Stewart suggests decking a fake bonsai (the real ones can be very expensive) with paper lanterns for a new take on a classic Christmas tree. –Katie D.

kinda genius: palace stacking tableware

stackable

Living in an apartment means never having to say you’re sorry for not having an enough space. Everything that lives in my tiny home has to either serve dual purposes or have some secret storage compartments (or both!) which is why I love Seletti and Selab’s Palace Stacking Tableware. Designed by Alessandro Zambelli, the gorgeous Florentine-inspired Renaissance homes unstack to turn into plates, platters, soup bowls and even salt and pepper shakers. The porcelain pieces are just as pretty displayed on your table as they are on your sideboard. –Katie D.

five things we learned last week

fivethingsxmaslightsbox
Book page décor is catching on. We shared this book page tree project from White Waxflower and we’re not the only fans. Paula says: “My friends & i just had a wreath making party this week and 2 of us made the book page wreaths!! Now we have to do the trees!!! LOVE IT!!!”

Custom chocolate bars are a sweet personalized treat. Becki S. made some for her hubby and shared the recipe to our delight. Ellie says: “So inspirational, a more modern take on your Great Aunt’s custom chocolate box, raisins optional!”

An orange, a tealight and cloves are all you need to make a festive air freshener. Rebecca F. shared her take on the Kitchn’s simple project, and asked what you do you warm up your home. Rebecca says: “When the weather turns chilly I make spiced cider simmered in a crock pot on low all day. It makes the whole place smell great and tastes amazing.”

Handmade mementos and homemade food are great gifts for in-laws. They’re tough to buy for, but you’ve found relative success with these items. Amber says: “I always go handmade – one year, I did homemade wine glass charms, another year, I brought back handmade Christmas ornaments from a trip to Prague – this year, I made my own ornaments and will also gift them with homemade yummy biscotti and wine. I’m very lucky that I have such amazing, grateful future in-laws who value quality time and good food and drink over anything material.”

Chic holiday table settings are just a grocery store trip away. Becki S. dressed her table with pears, spices and nuts and we love the simplicity of the look. Clair says: “I love your table. I did almost the same thing as you. I put out solid white plates and I placed on each plate d’jour pear with a few strings of raffia tied on the stem.”